These are two teams whose recent fortunes could hardly have been more contrasting: New Zealand had a home season where their game has been reinvigorated - capped by victories over India in both Tests and ODIs - while England lurched from disaster to disaster in Australia and have barely started the recovery process despite a small improvement in the West Indies.

New Zealand are usually fancied to at least reach the knockout stages of global events; England are rarely fancied to stay too long. That is pretty much the status quo this time.

This is a match between sides that play a similar brand of cricket. Neither side possess the unorthodox spin which is tipped to be eye-catching over the next couple of weeks, instead relying on more traditional bowling resources such as finger spin, brisk pace bowling and medium-pace cutters.

However, where the balance is tipped in New Zealand's favours is the batting power and the form of those individuals. Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Luke Ronchi and the latest star, Corey Anderson, provide destructive capabilities.

England's batting has provided the odd flash of encouragement - notably from Michael Lumb and Jos Buttler - but there has been precious little consistency with how they have built recent innings. Eoin Morgan appears short of form, and questions remain over the severity of his knee problem (the captain, Stuart Broad, also has his own knee worries), while the absence of you-know-who continues to hang like a dark cloud.

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first)

England WLLLLNew ZealandWWLWW

Watch out for...

Michael Lumb has looked in as good form as any of England's top order in the last couple of weeks. He blitzed a career-best 63 in the third T20 against West Indies and struck the ball cleanly in the warm-up match against India. As with all England's batsmen he is more comfortable with pace on the ball and off the pitch, so if the Chittagong surface retains its characteristics from the opening round it will suit him.

Brendon McCullum has had a career-defining few months, leading his side to victories over India and scoring New Zealand's first Test triple-hundred. And now he is back in the format that helped cement his global fame when he struck 158 in the first ever IPL match. He is far and away the leading run-scorer in T20 internationals and he could play a floating role in New Zealand's order depending on the match situation. England have felt the force of his blade a few times before.

Team news

Stuart Broad, who appears to have overcome his knee injury for now, spoke about consistency of selection, which means that Ian Bell is likely to continue sitting on the bench having not played since being flown to the West Indies. With the seamers being in the game more at this venue, England will be tempted to go for the extra quick ahead of the second frontline spinner in Stephen Parry. Chris Jordan, the likely man to benefit, also brings some power to the lower order.

Kane Williamson will provide the top-order anchor around the big hitters and his offspin will also come in very handy. Anton Devcich, the allrounder who bowls left-arm spin, could keep Ronnie Hira out of the starting XI. New Zealand have a strong hand of pace options; Trent Boult will find it hard to earn a spot.

The pitch was a little grassy on the eve of the match with skiddy bounce rather than turn expected which would certainly please England. Broad thought it would go through for the quicks. Dew could be a problem for the evening game; England trained with wet balls to prepare for such an eventually.

Stats and trivia

Brendon McCullum needs 41 runs to reach 2000 in T20Is - he is already 624 ahead of the man in second place: Mahela Jayawardene

Since January 2013, England have won just four out 13 T20 fixtures - only one Full Member, Bangladesh, has won fewer.

However, England have a strong head-to-head record against New Zealand with seven wins against three defeats.

Quotes

"I think these conditions might suit us a little bit more than Dhaka and as players we need to make sure we make use them."Stuart Broad was pleased with the relocation to Chittagong

"It's much better for us. He is obviously a world-class player and there is a demand for him around the world as well. "Brendon McCullum on the absence of Kevin Pietersen

That's a good looking NZ batting card, even without Neesham. Plenty of power and experience in the lower order of NMac, Devcich & Ronchi. We'll need the still weirdly under-rated NMac on his game with the ball, obviously, but I think the pacers are the key. Southee, Mills and McC. are a very strong lineup if all three turn up and get just a touch of luck. If all three have an off day? Could be ugly. Baz will probably want KW and Devcich to bowl to new batsmen, so there'll be few easy overs for the fast guys. Here's hoping ol' man Mills has a barnstorming tournament. He's got the skill set for these pitches and he seems in pretty nice form, so I reckon he just needs a bit of that aforementioned luck.

dunger.bob
on March 21, 2014, 21:55 GMT

NZ is a very dangerous proposition atm. They've been building for a year or two now and have one of the most effective batting line ups I've ever seen from them. Seriously capable imo. They shook the hell out of the Indians recently and are on a roll. England really has it's work cut out to beat them. .. in fact, I don't think they can.

yorkshire-86
on March 22, 2014, 13:22 GMT

What has Ali done to get in the team? He dosnt look international class. Also we have too many bowlers. 5 specialist bowlers plus Bopara (who is consistently our best bowler anyway) and the aforementioned Ali (if you dont need him to bowl 4 over what is the point of picking him) is too many.

on March 22, 2014, 11:03 GMT

Looking forward to seeing what the Kiwis can bring to the table, you'd think at their best, with B Mac and Anderson firing they could post up some big numbers, should be very entertaining as the Pommy spinners have very little mystery to them.

yorkshire-86
on March 22, 2014, 11:02 GMT

No Pietersen = No Hope. The difference between Pietersen and some of the other 'ex players' people have mentioned, from Gooch to Grace, is simple. The other players are either retired, past thier best, or dead. Pietersen is not an ex-player, he is a current player, in the best years of his career. Cook should be fired and returned to the ranks for destroying the English cricket team - he isnt even a good captain.

on March 22, 2014, 10:58 GMT

I think both the teams are lacking of spinners..in sub-continent condition only 1 regular spinner is not enough!!!
Although a 50-50 contest...!!

drinks.break
on March 22, 2014, 10:03 GMT

Yes, I think short of England actually picking Lord Voldemort and letting him unleash a few Avada Kadabra bouncers, they've got no chance this tournament!

seriously , I'm pretty much in agreement re the side although I wonder whether I'd have Dernbach in for Broad. I don't think SB has been that great lately (not that JB has either) and I wonder about risking his long term fitness for tests (a format where he has done well) for a format where he recently has not.
I dont think CK is the answer. I'd say the way he plays (boundary or nothing most of the time) is one of our biggest batting issues in SFs

JG2704
on March 22, 2014, 9:30 GMT

@ kiwicricketnut on (March 21, 2014, 20:39 GMT) Hello bud. May the best team win.

Re Dernbach - he is one of thee most frustrating bowlers out there. When he gets it right he is awesome but I think he lets things affect him too much when the odd decent delivery goes for 4. The thing is he'll go back to Surrey and look unplayable. Purely at the moment I say Bresnan is the worst of our bowlers out there - but that says more about him being bad than Dernbach and co being ok. I think NZ have more dangerous batsmen - more matchwinners. Anderson's SR has been scary in recent times.
I will watch this game optimistic for an England win and then wonder why afterwards

@JB - KP would probably have been injured anyway. I think people forget that he has hardly played any T20 or even ODI cricket for England in recent years

on March 22, 2014, 9:21 GMT

it is funny how people are praising newzealand here because all of them are praising their batting lineup and their wins aginst west indies and india we all know that indian bowling line up is weak especially in foriegn conditions and one need to remember nz grounds are very small in size and are green tops where as in bangladesh it is spinning tracks and medium sized grounds we have seen how nz played in india,sri lanka and recently concluded bangladesh tour just before indian series almost with the same batting line up.

SameOld
on March 21, 2014, 23:37 GMT

That's a good looking NZ batting card, even without Neesham. Plenty of power and experience in the lower order of NMac, Devcich & Ronchi. We'll need the still weirdly under-rated NMac on his game with the ball, obviously, but I think the pacers are the key. Southee, Mills and McC. are a very strong lineup if all three turn up and get just a touch of luck. If all three have an off day? Could be ugly. Baz will probably want KW and Devcich to bowl to new batsmen, so there'll be few easy overs for the fast guys. Here's hoping ol' man Mills has a barnstorming tournament. He's got the skill set for these pitches and he seems in pretty nice form, so I reckon he just needs a bit of that aforementioned luck.

dunger.bob
on March 21, 2014, 21:55 GMT

NZ is a very dangerous proposition atm. They've been building for a year or two now and have one of the most effective batting line ups I've ever seen from them. Seriously capable imo. They shook the hell out of the Indians recently and are on a roll. England really has it's work cut out to beat them. .. in fact, I don't think they can.

yorkshire-86
on March 22, 2014, 13:22 GMT

What has Ali done to get in the team? He dosnt look international class. Also we have too many bowlers. 5 specialist bowlers plus Bopara (who is consistently our best bowler anyway) and the aforementioned Ali (if you dont need him to bowl 4 over what is the point of picking him) is too many.

on March 22, 2014, 11:03 GMT

Looking forward to seeing what the Kiwis can bring to the table, you'd think at their best, with B Mac and Anderson firing they could post up some big numbers, should be very entertaining as the Pommy spinners have very little mystery to them.

yorkshire-86
on March 22, 2014, 11:02 GMT

No Pietersen = No Hope. The difference between Pietersen and some of the other 'ex players' people have mentioned, from Gooch to Grace, is simple. The other players are either retired, past thier best, or dead. Pietersen is not an ex-player, he is a current player, in the best years of his career. Cook should be fired and returned to the ranks for destroying the English cricket team - he isnt even a good captain.

on March 22, 2014, 10:58 GMT

I think both the teams are lacking of spinners..in sub-continent condition only 1 regular spinner is not enough!!!
Although a 50-50 contest...!!

drinks.break
on March 22, 2014, 10:03 GMT

Yes, I think short of England actually picking Lord Voldemort and letting him unleash a few Avada Kadabra bouncers, they've got no chance this tournament!

seriously , I'm pretty much in agreement re the side although I wonder whether I'd have Dernbach in for Broad. I don't think SB has been that great lately (not that JB has either) and I wonder about risking his long term fitness for tests (a format where he has done well) for a format where he recently has not.
I dont think CK is the answer. I'd say the way he plays (boundary or nothing most of the time) is one of our biggest batting issues in SFs

JG2704
on March 22, 2014, 9:30 GMT

@ kiwicricketnut on (March 21, 2014, 20:39 GMT) Hello bud. May the best team win.

Re Dernbach - he is one of thee most frustrating bowlers out there. When he gets it right he is awesome but I think he lets things affect him too much when the odd decent delivery goes for 4. The thing is he'll go back to Surrey and look unplayable. Purely at the moment I say Bresnan is the worst of our bowlers out there - but that says more about him being bad than Dernbach and co being ok. I think NZ have more dangerous batsmen - more matchwinners. Anderson's SR has been scary in recent times.
I will watch this game optimistic for an England win and then wonder why afterwards

@JB - KP would probably have been injured anyway. I think people forget that he has hardly played any T20 or even ODI cricket for England in recent years

on March 22, 2014, 9:21 GMT

it is funny how people are praising newzealand here because all of them are praising their batting lineup and their wins aginst west indies and india we all know that indian bowling line up is weak especially in foriegn conditions and one need to remember nz grounds are very small in size and are green tops where as in bangladesh it is spinning tracks and medium sized grounds we have seen how nz played in india,sri lanka and recently concluded bangladesh tour just before indian series almost with the same batting line up.

SamWintson92
on March 22, 2014, 9:05 GMT

Well, I selected Wright for this match & with him out of this tournament here's my updated teams:

Any England article, I always want to write, ''KP SHOULD BE BROUGHT BACK''.

i still think england team didnt justify dropping KP and finn, for what reason are they out of this team? finn was most successful bowler in recent years and obv nothing to say about KP.

CodandChips
on March 22, 2014, 7:10 GMT

Not looking forward to this from an English perspective. As a cricket fan, I love major tournaments, but then I remember that my country are playing. Oh well.
It's complete madness. The previous WT20 was such a disaster, and one we went into ranked number 1. So we now approach the same tournament in very similar conditions with an almost identical squad, and somehow expect to win it. Just without our class fast bowler who has lost all confidence. Parry just looks like another Briggs. But tbf Bopara has done alright recently. Tredwell has also appeared to replace Swann pretty well (even in the slips). And Moeen Ali looks good. Buttler is improving and Jordan has potential. Bit then again our best bowler is injured and our best batsman (Morgan) can't play spin.
Why on earth are Bell and Woakes in the squad. Both are good red-ball cricketers, but T20? Ashley Giles selecting Warwickshire players without any county form, just like he did with Rankin.

CodandChips
on March 22, 2014, 7:09 GMT

Can't believe hardly anyone thinks New Zealand will win the tournament. India have bowling deficiencies and Pakistan batting deficiencies, so although I think they could both make the semis, they shouldn't win. England, South Africa and West Indies have general cricket-playing deficiencies so can't win. Sri Lanka are clearly the best teram but are guarenteed to choke in the final. Australia have done well recently but their good run is due to come to an end I reckon, especially in sub-continental conditions. So that leaves NewZealand.
NewZealand's batting line-up is one of the best. Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum are 3 of the best going around. Corey Anderson has recently broken the world record for the fastest ODI hundred. The bowling attack of Mills and McClenaghan in particular is good. New Zealand have a real chance of winning the tournament

harnav5
on March 22, 2014, 6:36 GMT

NZ has got biggest tail but, most of the times they fail to put big total

on March 22, 2014, 5:18 GMT

To every one who thinks that Kevin Pietersen should come back, forget it, he won't. That would mean the England management admitting their enormous error which unfortunately will never happen

on March 22, 2014, 5:17 GMT

NZ must need to include HIRA in the squad..... there is some help for spinners

milepost
on March 22, 2014, 5:14 GMT

England are no match for NZ who are stealthily proving themselves a very competitive side having just dealt out an absolute hiding to India and unluckily not beat England in their last test series. There's only two teams in this World Cup with a chance and that's Australia and the Netherlands. Normal Ashes service has resumed.

Akshita29
on March 22, 2014, 4:07 GMT

England have no chance of qualifying despite being in the easier group ...

SixSmasher
on March 22, 2014, 1:51 GMT

I find it difficult to support England these days. The way they have behaved is disgraceful. The are also so tactically inept it is painful. I was a better tactician when I was 10 years old. Bad team selection, bad bowling changes, bad field settings, bad batting tactics. It's a nightmare to watch really.

xtrafalgarx, England won their only world cup with KP as man of the tournament. I don't need to add anything else do I.

on March 22, 2014, 0:42 GMT

Sorry Andrew, but that will not be the likely team versus England... and the Black Caps will read next to nothing into their warm-up games if that is why you named the "probable" line-up for NZ that you did. Devcich's left arm bowling could be handy and I agree that it will see him replace (due to his batting also being good as you mention) Williamson or Hira... but Hira was never that likely and it's not a replacement because the warm-up match was 12-a -side... allowing Hira to play to test him (he was not part of the home summer)....
I also find it unusual that, given his form in actual games, his IPL contract and his experience in Bangladesh and on slow pitches, that you did not name Neesham in the starting eleven... I assume you are joking? Or, as above, you read way too much into warm-ups. This is a more likely team:

@JG207, no your not being harsh but fair. Bres has struggled in all formats since his injury and I agree we should stick with Parry. Even though he got belted the other night, there are plenty of spinners that India have done this too and he has done ok excluding that game. I would drop Bres for Parry as well.
@xtraflagx, I agree with you even as an ardent England fan. This media hysteria regarding KP is ridiculous and if we are going to be honest he has not been consistently brilliant for England post 2008. Having KP would not detach from the fact we are terrible at the death and can't play good spin bowling. It may help a fraction but I am very dubious about how much.
I think people in England realise this but the media keep floating out the same nonsense. I guess the whole soap opera gives them good stories regardless of how true they are. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story eh.

Fydd
on March 21, 2014, 23:16 GMT

NZ prob have the edge, but historically don't play well in Bangladesh in recent years. Can't see why NZ would pick Devcich, he is inexperienced and unproven, and it is not a spinners' pitch - they have NMac and Williamson for that anyway. Neesham hit a test century against India, and he is a better hitter and finisher than Devich. Plus he can bowl, tho he tends to get whacked round the park.

JoshFromJamRock
on March 21, 2014, 21:04 GMT

New Zealand will win this match. The only issue is by how much. The teams are similar in almost every way but experience and form are strongly in NZ's favor. Anderson, Rossy and BMac are the trio that will provide the big hitting. Williamson can score at 120+ and will more likely be used as the anchor while the trio are given the license to swing away at different stages. The NZ bowlers are very good at keeping things simple and will be effective when given a good score (150+) to defend. The batting is capable of scoring 160 everytime.

The problem for England, apart from being woeful against spin, is that they are way too orthodox in their batting and bowling. They lack the creativity and "mystery" that would dominate good bowling and contain unorthodox batting respectively. The Netherlands may well beat them.

RoBoBobster
on March 21, 2014, 20:51 GMT

considering the squad the team should be: Hales, Lumb, Ali, Morgan, Butler, Bopara, Wright, Jordan, Broad, Tredwell, Parry
Dernbach's bowled OK recently, and could squeeze in ahead of Parry (and if he wasn't captain, Broad), and with Bopara, Ali, and Wright it seems ridiculous to play 5 specialist bowlers. Please no Bresnan - respect him but recently has been dreadful, not sure about Wright, but with current squad him and Bell are the only choices, Bell is competely untested recently, Wright could be fantastic, if he could just find form (on current Patel, with his spin is preferable, but thats neither here nor there)

kiwicricketnut
on March 21, 2014, 20:39 GMT

@ JG2704 good to see ya again, if bresnan is as bad as you say he is at the moment you might be in real trouble because what i have seen of dernbach i can't believe he still makes the england side, in saying that i hate it when we go into games as favourites, it doesn't sit well with most fans because usually the expectation doesn't sit well with the players but i guess if you are going to climb the rankings its something we have to get use too, we are such good underdogs, lets see how we go as favourites, that team sheet looks wrong any nz t-20 side with no neesham would be a mistake, his warm up games wern't flash but he's quality, ya gotta stick by him, nz by a whisker.

yunaimin
on March 21, 2014, 20:17 GMT

No point in playing Dernbach. He has the worst economy rate of any current regular T20 bowler.

mzm149
on March 21, 2014, 20:08 GMT

England deserve to lose after that Kevin Pietersen saga.

ramz30380
on March 21, 2014, 20:07 GMT

NZ have the edge in dis match - no offense Eng but u guys havent been up to it off-lately and injuries hasnt helped! Why isnt Luke Wright part of the squad? He has played the IPL and is familiar with the conditions in this part of the world - wud have been an asset!

Mc Cullum is in a kind of form where even if you wake him up at 3 in the morning & ask him to play he will hit a clean strike landing the cherry into the stands! The elder Mc Cullum is miserly with the ball and u will expect him to play a significant role as well! But this is an unpredictable format - anything can happen in T20 but on paper - NZ start favorites...

SamWintson92
on March 21, 2014, 20:05 GMT

Any England article, I always want to write, ''KP SHOULD BE BROUGHT BACK''.

I don't think that would be the possible team, if the selectors have any sense it will be: Guptil, Williamson, McCullum, Taylor, Anderson, Ronchi, Neesham, Devcich, N Mcullum, Southee, Mills. McClenaghan is just too expensive and can't bat, a good ODI bowler.

If chasing a big total I would open with either McCullum or Devcich.

Hira1
on March 21, 2014, 20:03 GMT

NZ will win they are much better side than Eng.............

SandipManjrekar
on March 21, 2014, 19:09 GMT

No doubt NZL being the best all round skilled unit would be favorite to reach semi but after watching last few games of England, I would not be surprised if they get 2 points against kiwis tomorrow. All depend on how pitch behave on a day but looks flat decent. English attack looking far better composed than that of NZL which would be decisive factor for the outcome. My money on ENGLAND....

usapsunil
on March 21, 2014, 18:26 GMT

some one really with england is going to win match without KP?

FRpunk
on March 21, 2014, 17:56 GMT

NZ have to Win this Game . England are Short on Confidence and therefore NZ should take advantage of this Situation . I think Brendon should Open with Guptill or will it be some one Else ? Nz have a very Balanced T-20 Side .

harryShamim
on March 21, 2014, 17:53 GMT

Best of luck new zealand... from Pakistan though kp will be missed..:(

CodandChips
on March 21, 2014, 17:50 GMT

Not looking forward to this from an English perspective. As a cricket fan, I love major tournaments, but then I remember that my country are playing. Oh well.

It's complete madness. The previous WT20 was such a disaster, and one we went into ranked number 1. So we now approach the same tournament in very similar conditions with an almost identical squad, and somehow expect to win it. Just without our class fast bowler who has lost all confidence. Parry just looks like another Briggs. But tbf Bopara has done alright recently. Tredwell has also appeared to replace Swann pretty well (even in the slips). And Moeen Ali looks good. Buttler is improving and Jordan has potential. Bit then again our best bowler is injured and our best batsman (Morgan) can't play spin.

Why on earth are Bell and Woakes in the squad. Both are good red-ball cricketers, but T20? Ashley Giles selecting Warwickshire players without any county form, just like he did with Rankin.

CodandChips
on March 21, 2014, 17:42 GMT

Can't believe hardly anyone thinks New Zealand will win the tournament. India have bowling deficiencies and Pakistan batting deficiencies, so although I think they could both make the semis, they shouldn't win. England, South Africa and West Indies have general cricket-playing deficiencies so can't win. Sri Lanka are clearly the best teram but are guarenteed to choke in the final. Australia have done well recently but their good run is due to come to an end I reckon, especially in sub-continental conditions. So that leaves NewZealand.

NewZealand's batting line-up is one of the best. Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum are 3 of the best going around. Corey Anderson has recently broken the world record for the fastest ODI hundred. The bowling attack of Mills and McClenaghan in particular is good. New Zealand have a real chance of winning the tournament

on March 21, 2014, 17:27 GMT

2 points-
taylor not in form
plzz mccullum open/drop kane
play neesham down the order.

xtrafalgarx
on March 21, 2014, 16:46 GMT

I reckon this whole 'KP' thing has been talked about so much, to the point now where i think he is now being over rated. Yes, England are a better team with him in it, but don't tell me that one man who is a very good but not great player is going to turn the whole England ship around by himself. The fact that England thinks that this is the case says to me that maybe they are better of without him, because hinging all of your hopes and dreams on one bloke is foolish.

NZ to edge ENG and make it to the semi's next to SL.

JG2704
on March 21, 2014, 16:07 GMT

Re the team - despite him going for runs last time out I'd probably stick with Parry although Jordan would probably be the 1st pacer on my teamsheet from the T20 squad right now.
For me Bresnan has looked particularly bad in recent games. It's not just that he's going for runs - as sometimes a bowler can go for runs because he is unlucky or because the batsman is in unstppable form - but he is consistently bowling alot of rank stuff.
I think we need to be a bit more ruthless re selection in this format. Luke Wright is one of my favourite T20 players but he has looked in horrible touch in recent matches and it looks like the selectors have lost patience. But I wonder why they are keeping patience with Bresnan when he has looked so bad or am I being harsh?

on March 21, 2014, 15:54 GMT

miss you kp.

SameOld
on March 21, 2014, 23:37 GMT

That's a good looking NZ batting card, even without Neesham. Plenty of power and experience in the lower order of NMac, Devcich & Ronchi. We'll need the still weirdly under-rated NMac on his game with the ball, obviously, but I think the pacers are the key. Southee, Mills and McC. are a very strong lineup if all three turn up and get just a touch of luck. If all three have an off day? Could be ugly. Baz will probably want KW and Devcich to bowl to new batsmen, so there'll be few easy overs for the fast guys. Here's hoping ol' man Mills has a barnstorming tournament. He's got the skill set for these pitches and he seems in pretty nice form, so I reckon he just needs a bit of that aforementioned luck.

dunger.bob
on March 21, 2014, 21:55 GMT

NZ is a very dangerous proposition atm. They've been building for a year or two now and have one of the most effective batting line ups I've ever seen from them. Seriously capable imo. They shook the hell out of the Indians recently and are on a roll. England really has it's work cut out to beat them. .. in fact, I don't think they can.

on March 21, 2014, 15:54 GMT

miss you kp.

JG2704
on March 21, 2014, 16:07 GMT

Re the team - despite him going for runs last time out I'd probably stick with Parry although Jordan would probably be the 1st pacer on my teamsheet from the T20 squad right now.
For me Bresnan has looked particularly bad in recent games. It's not just that he's going for runs - as sometimes a bowler can go for runs because he is unlucky or because the batsman is in unstppable form - but he is consistently bowling alot of rank stuff.
I think we need to be a bit more ruthless re selection in this format. Luke Wright is one of my favourite T20 players but he has looked in horrible touch in recent matches and it looks like the selectors have lost patience. But I wonder why they are keeping patience with Bresnan when he has looked so bad or am I being harsh?

xtrafalgarx
on March 21, 2014, 16:46 GMT

I reckon this whole 'KP' thing has been talked about so much, to the point now where i think he is now being over rated. Yes, England are a better team with him in it, but don't tell me that one man who is a very good but not great player is going to turn the whole England ship around by himself. The fact that England thinks that this is the case says to me that maybe they are better of without him, because hinging all of your hopes and dreams on one bloke is foolish.

NZ to edge ENG and make it to the semi's next to SL.

on March 21, 2014, 17:27 GMT

2 points-
taylor not in form
plzz mccullum open/drop kane
play neesham down the order.

CodandChips
on March 21, 2014, 17:42 GMT

Can't believe hardly anyone thinks New Zealand will win the tournament. India have bowling deficiencies and Pakistan batting deficiencies, so although I think they could both make the semis, they shouldn't win. England, South Africa and West Indies have general cricket-playing deficiencies so can't win. Sri Lanka are clearly the best teram but are guarenteed to choke in the final. Australia have done well recently but their good run is due to come to an end I reckon, especially in sub-continental conditions. So that leaves NewZealand.

NewZealand's batting line-up is one of the best. Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum are 3 of the best going around. Corey Anderson has recently broken the world record for the fastest ODI hundred. The bowling attack of Mills and McClenaghan in particular is good. New Zealand have a real chance of winning the tournament

CodandChips
on March 21, 2014, 17:50 GMT

Not looking forward to this from an English perspective. As a cricket fan, I love major tournaments, but then I remember that my country are playing. Oh well.

It's complete madness. The previous WT20 was such a disaster, and one we went into ranked number 1. So we now approach the same tournament in very similar conditions with an almost identical squad, and somehow expect to win it. Just without our class fast bowler who has lost all confidence. Parry just looks like another Briggs. But tbf Bopara has done alright recently. Tredwell has also appeared to replace Swann pretty well (even in the slips). And Moeen Ali looks good. Buttler is improving and Jordan has potential. Bit then again our best bowler is injured and our best batsman (Morgan) can't play spin.

Why on earth are Bell and Woakes in the squad. Both are good red-ball cricketers, but T20? Ashley Giles selecting Warwickshire players without any county form, just like he did with Rankin.

harryShamim
on March 21, 2014, 17:53 GMT

Best of luck new zealand... from Pakistan though kp will be missed..:(

FRpunk
on March 21, 2014, 17:56 GMT

NZ have to Win this Game . England are Short on Confidence and therefore NZ should take advantage of this Situation . I think Brendon should Open with Guptill or will it be some one Else ? Nz have a very Balanced T-20 Side .

usapsunil
on March 21, 2014, 18:26 GMT

some one really with england is going to win match without KP?

SandipManjrekar
on March 21, 2014, 19:09 GMT

No doubt NZL being the best all round skilled unit would be favorite to reach semi but after watching last few games of England, I would not be surprised if they get 2 points against kiwis tomorrow. All depend on how pitch behave on a day but looks flat decent. English attack looking far better composed than that of NZL which would be decisive factor for the outcome. My money on ENGLAND....